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Mackay locals joined police and Neighbourhood Watch to share home security tips and crime prevention advice. Photo credit: Hannah McNamara
Mackay residents came together last Wednesday 23rd September for a Secure Your Home Day event, enjoying free pizza while chatting about practical ways to improve safety in their neighbourhoods and reduce opportunities for crime.
Hosted by Member for Mackay Nigel Dalton in partnership with Northern Beaches Neighbourhood Watch, the event brought locals together with police to talk about home security, crime prevention and the simple ways neighbours can look out for one another.
Secure Your Home Day is held on the 26th and 27th of September and is a national initiative led by Neighbourhood Watch Australia encouraging Australians to assess their home security and encourage the implementation of simple crime prevention measures.
Mr Dalton said the event was about giving residents practical tools to protect their homes and prevent crime before it occurs, and enthused locals to relay the information with their neighbours.
“This has been organised to make sure that everybody has access and opportunities to what we call target: harden your house,” Mr Dalton said.
“The best way of doing that is to prevent the crime before it actually happens.”
Officer-in-Charge of Mackay Northern Beaches Police Station Senior Sergeant Mitch Benson said police continued to focus on proactive measures across the Northern Beaches, with local Neighbourhood Watch also playing an important role in connecting the community.
“We’ve done a lot of work in that proactive space of trying to stop crime before it happens,” he said.
“That’s probably the first step in preventing people becoming victims in the first place.”
Sergeant Highway Patrol James Dolby also spoke about ongoing police efforts across the district, including crime prevention and road safety matters.
He said police would continue to focus on issues including off-road vehicles and dangerous riding, with officers maintaining a visible presence across the community.
“We’re working very hard trying to keep the numbers down,” Sergeant Dolby said.
“We’re having some really good wins and some positive hits at that.”
“Rest assured, we’re out there every day, every afternoon, every night.”
Locals were encouraged to take what they had learned back into their own streets, with simple conversations between neighbours forming part of the broader approach to community safety.
According to the Home Security Guide, these four key principles are important for good home security:
For more information, visit the Queensland Police Service Home Security Guide at police.qld.gov.au.
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